TRICARE-eligible family members, whose sponsor dies while on active duty will continue to receive TRICARE benefits.

During the three years following a sponsor's death, surviving spouses and children under 21 years of age (23, if enrolled in a full-time course of study in an institution of higher learning) remain eligible for TRICARE Prime without enrollment fees and copayments.

Surviving family members may enroll in TRICARE Prime where offered, but lose eligibility for TRICARE Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members, if enrolled in that program at the time of the sponsor's death.

Surviving family members who are not enrolled in TRICARE Prime may use TRICARE Extra or Standard, but are subject to the appropriate active duty cost shares and annual deductible requirements for each program. During the three-year survivor benefit period, surviving family members are protected from having to pay out-of-pocket expenses of more than $1,000 per fiscal year for TRICARE allowable charges for covered services.

Active duty family members who accompanied their sponsor on orders outside of the continental United States (OCONUS) and reside in that location at the time of their sponsor's death are eligible for three-year transitional health care benefits under the TRICARE Overseas Program Prime.

Surviving family members who are enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) at the time of the servicemember's death remain eligible for dental care under the TDP Survivor Benefit program. Under this survivor program, the Government will pay 100 percent of the premium for three years from the month following the sponsor's death. For additional information on dental survivor benefits, beneficiaries may refer to the TRICARE Dental Program Survivor Benefit fact sheet.

It is extremely important for survivors to update their TRICARE eligibility in DEERS. Surviving family members may go to the nearest Uniformed Services identification card-issuing facility , which can be found at the RAPIDS Site locator, or contact the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office Telephone Center at (800) 538-9552. Surviving spouses must contact the ID card-issuing facility in advance to determine the range and scope of available services.